Word
disposable
Phoneticsdis·pos·able
US/dɪˈspoʊzəbəɫ/
UK/dɪspˈəʊzəbəl/
Definitions
01single-use
adj. made to be thrown away after you use it once.
adj. designed to be discarded after a single use rather than being cleaned, refilled, or repaired.
“The hotel provides disposable razors and toothbrushes for guests who forget theirs.”
“Environmental groups are campaigning against the widespread use of disposable plastic cutlery in fast-food chains due to the resulting waste.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun it describes.
Synonyms
02available for use
adj. available for you to use or spend.
adj. available for use or expenditure; most commonly used in the phrase 'disposable income'.
“After paying his rent and bills, he didn't have much disposable income left.”
“Economists noted a significant decrease in disposable income across the middle class as inflation outpaced wage growth.”
Usage
Frequently collocates with 'income' or 'assets'.
Synonyms
03a single-use item
n. an object that is designed to be used once and then thrown away.
n. a product designed for one-time use, typically sold in bulk for convenience or hygiene.
“We bought a pack of disposables for the baby while we were traveling.”
“The hospital switched to medical disposables to reduce the risk of cross-contamination between patients during routine procedures.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“The government has also announced a temporary ban on the sale of disposable barbecues , saying they had been responsible for serious fires this summer.” “He also said some of the wildfires burning across the country will have been started by disposable barbecues.” “Speaking from Stourbridge, Burnham said it was necessary to bring in a temporary ban on disposable barbecues from Friday, asking retailers to withdraw them from sale.” “A booming post-World War II economy gave them disposable income.” Collocations
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/disposable